Adootbam j



(No Model.)

A. J. STEWART.

BUCKLE.

tented Oct. 23

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADON IRAM J. STEWART, OF GHILLICOTHE, MISSOURI.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,764, dated October 23, 18881.

Application filed March 16, 1888. Serial No.267,353. (N0 model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADONIRAM J. STEWART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Livingston and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles for Sinches and Harness; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a new and simplified construction in sinch or girth buckles for saddles and buckles for harness; and it consists in so constructing the same as to enable a sinch or girth or hamestrap, breast-strap, or other similar strap to be fastened and tightened quickly; and for saddles it is especially adapted for use in connection with the styles of saddles known as Mexican, Western, Cowboy, and Cavalry.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by similar letters, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention as applied to girth, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the buckle in detail.

The buckle A has a tongue, a,which extends backward and downward from the crossbar a, thus forming a loop or hook, a behind the said crossbar and causing it as it extends from one side of the fastener to the other and forms its rear end to act as a pivot for the tongue, while two bars, a and a, extend across the fastener parallel to each other, the

latter bar forming its forward edge, which israised the thickness of the strap above the sides of the buckle. The tongue has its forward end flattened on its under side in order to give a larger bearing-surface between it and the bar of, upon which it rests when it is closed. From this peculiar form of the tongue, whenever oppositely-acting forces are applied to the cross-bars a and a and the loop (o the latter, being below the pivotal point, will be drawn backward and upward, thus pressing the flattened portion upon the forward under surface of the tongue against the bar a. and securely closing the buckle. A strap, B, having a ring, 0, attached to one end thereof, ex-

' tends between the cross-bars a and a", doubles on itself and passes through the ring 0, doubles on itself and passes between the cross-bars a and a, and again doubles on itself, the end opposite to the ring having perforations I), through which the tongue a projects.

A pad, D, is attached to the buckle A upon the under surface thereof, and has a perforation, d, therein to permit the passage of the loop of the tongue, and prevents the fastener from rubbing against the horse and thus annoying him. Aring,F,passes over the tongue and is received on the loop a and is secured to one end of the strap or sinch above described, while the ring 0 is fastened to the saddle on the other side. 7

It is evident that if the strap Bis drawn tight and the tongue passed through one of the perforations I), the strain will be in two directions, the rings 0 and F pulling opposite to each other. The loop a will thus be pulled backward and upward, causing the forward end of the tongue to press firmly upon the bar a, and thus effectually preventing the strap from slipping off the tongue. It is also evident that my buckle may be used for other purposes, and I do not confine myself to using it for fastening saddles.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. Ina girth and harness buckle, a crossbar a, a tongue pivoted thereto and extending backward and downward therefrom, forming a loop or hook, a and bars a and 05 across the forward end of the buckle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A girth and harness buckle having a crossbar, a tongue pivoted thereto and extending backward and downward therefrom, forming a loop or hook, the forward end of the said tongue being flattened on one side, and parallel bars a and a in front of the said tongue, substantially as and for the purpose 95 described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADONIRAM J. STEWART. Witnesses:

I. N. PAGE, BEN A. RUPP. 

